Method and apparatus for video coding

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for video encoding/decoding. In some examples, an apparatus for video decoding includes receiving circuitry and processing circuitry. For example, the processing circuitry decodes prediction information of a current block in a current coding tree unit (CTU) from a coded video bitstream. The prediction information is indicative of an intra block copy mode. A size of the current CTU is smaller than a maximum size of a reference sample memory for storing reconstructed samples. The processing circuitry determines a block vector that points to a reference block in a same picture as the current block. The reference block has reconstructed samples buffered in the reference sample memory. Then, the processing circuitry reconstructs at least a sample of the current block based on the reconstructed samples of the reference block that are retrieved from the reference sample memory.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/533,719, “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIDEO CODING”, filed Aug. 6, 2019, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/792,888, “SEARCH RANGE ADJUSTMENT WITH VARIABLE CTU SIZE FOR INTRA PICTURE BLOCK COMPENSATION” filed on Jan. 15, 2019. The entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure describes embodiments generally related to video coding.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent the work is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Video coding and decoding can be performed using inter-picture prediction with motion compensation. Uncompressed digital video can include a series of pictures, each picture having a spatial dimension of, for example, 1920×1080 luminance samples and associated chrominance samples. The series of pictures can have a fixed or variable picture rate (informally also known as frame rate), of, for example 60 pictures per second or 60 Hz. Uncompressed video has significant bitrate requirements. For example, 1080p60 4:2:0 video at 8 bit per sample (1920×1080 luminance sample resolution at 60 Hz frame rate) requires close to 1.5 Gbit/s bandwidth. An hour of such video requires more than 600 GBytes of storage space.

One purpose of video coding and decoding can be the reduction of redundancy in the input video signal, through compression. Compression can help reduce the aforementioned bandwidth or storage space requirements, in some cases by two orders of magnitude or more. Both lossless and lossy compression, as well as a combination thereof can be employed. Lossless compression refers to techniques where an exact copy of the original signal can be reconstructed from the compressed original signal. When using lossy compression, the reconstructed signal may not be identical to the original signal, but the distortion between original and reconstructed signals is small enough to make the reconstructed signal useful for the intended application. In the case of video, lossy compression is widely employed. The amount of distortion tolerated depends on the application; for example, users of certain consumer streaming applications may tolerate higher distortion than users of television distribution applications. The compression ratio achievable can reflect that: higher allowable/tolerable distortion can yield higher compression ratios.

A video encoder and decoder can utilize techniques from several broad categories, including, for example, motion compensation, transform, quantization, and entropy coding.

Video codec technologies can include techniques known as intra coding. In intra coding, sample values are represented without reference to samples or other data from previously reconstructed reference pictures. In some video codecs, the picture is spatially subdivided into blocks of samples. When all blocks of samples are coded in intra mode, that picture can be an intra picture. Intra pictures and their derivations such as independent decoder refresh pictures, can be used to reset the decoder state and can, therefore, be used as the first picture in a coded video bitstream and a video session, or as a still image. The samples of an intra block can be exposed to a transform, and the transform coefficients can be quantized before entropy coding. Intra prediction can be a technique that minimizes sample values in the pre-transform domain. In some cases, the smaller the DC value after a transform is, and the smaller the AC coefficients are, the fewer the bits that are required at a given quantization step size to represent the block after entropy coding.

Traditional intra coding such as known from, for example MPEG-2 generation coding technologies, does not use intra prediction. However, some newer video compression technologies include techniques that attempt, from, for example, surrounding sample data and/or metadata obtained during the encoding/decoding of spatially neighboring, and preceding in decoding order, blocks of data. Such techniques are henceforth called “intra prediction” techniques. Note that in at least some cases, intra prediction is only using reference data from the current picture under reconstruction and not from reference pictures.

There can be many different forms of intra prediction. When more than one of such techniques can be used in a given video coding technology, the technique in use can be coded in an intra prediction mode. In certain cases, modes can have submodes and/or parameters, and those can be coded individually or included in the mode codeword. Which codeword to use for a given mode/submode/parameter combination can have an impact in the coding efficiency gain through intra prediction, and so can the entropy coding technology used to translate the codewords into a bitstream.

A certain mode of intra prediction was introduced with H.264, refined in H.265, and further refined in newer coding technologies such as joint exploration model (JEM), versatile video coding (VVC), and benchmark set (BMS). A predictor block can be formed using neighboring sample values belonging to already available samples. Sample values of neighboring samples are copied into the predictor block according to a direction. A reference to the direction in use can be coded in the bitstream or may itself be predicted.

Referring to FIG. 1, depicted in the lower right is a subset of nine predictor directions known from H.265′s 33 possible predictor directions (corresponding to the 33 angular modes of the 35 intra modes). The point where the arrows converge (101) represents the sample being predicted. The arrows represent the direction from which the sample is being predicted. For example, arrow (102) indicates that sample (101) is predicted from a sample or samples to the upper right, at a 45 degree angle from the horizontal. Similarly, arrow (103) indicates that sample (101) is predicted from a sample or samples to the lower left of sample (101), in a 22.5 degree angle from the horizontal.

Still referring to FIG. 1, on the top left there is depicted a square block (104) of 4×4 samples (indicated by a dashed, boldface line). The square block (104) includes 16 samples, each labelled with an “S”, its position in the Y dimension (e.g., row index) and its position in the X dimension (e.g., column index). For example, sample S21 is the second sample in the Y dimension (from the top) and the first (from the left) sample in the X dimension. Similarly, sample S44 is the fourth sample in block (104) in both the Y and X dimensions. As the block is 4×4 samples in size, S44 is at the bottom right. Further shown are reference samples that follow a similar numbering scheme. A reference sample is labelled with an R, its Y position (e.g., row index) and X position (column index) relative to block (104). In both H.264 and H.265, prediction samples neighbor the block under reconstruction; therefore no negative values need to be used.

Intra picture prediction can work by copying reference sample values from the neighboring samples as appropriated by the signaled prediction direction. For example, assume the coded video bitstream includes signaling that, for this block, indicates a prediction direction consistent with arrow (102)—that is, samples are predicted from a prediction sample or samples to the upper right, at a 45 degree angle from the horizontal. In that case, samples S41, S32, S23, and S14 are predicted from the same reference sample R05. Sample S44 is then predicted from reference sample R08.

In certain cases, the values of multiple reference samples may be combined, for example through interpolation, in order to calculate a reference sample; especially when the directions are not evenly divisible by 45 degrees.

The number of possible directions has increased as video coding technology has developed. In H.264 (year 2003), nine different direction could be represented. That increased to 33 in H.265 (year 2013), and JEM/VVC/BMS, at the time of disclosure, can support up to 65 directions. Experiments have been conducted to identify the most likely directions, and certain techniques in the entropy coding are used to represent those likely directions in a small number of bits, accepting a certain penalty for less likely directions. Further, the directions themselves can sometimes be predicted from neighboring directions used in neighboring, already decoded, blocks.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic (201) that depicts 65 intra prediction directions according to JEM to illustrate the increasing number of prediction directions over time.

The mapping of intra prediction directions bits in the coded video bitstream that represent the direction can be different from video coding technology to video coding technology; and can range, for example, from simple direct mappings of prediction direction to intra prediction mode, to codewords, to complex adaptive schemes involving most probable modes, and similar techniques. In all cases, however, there can be certain directions that are statistically less likely to occur in video content than certain other directions. As the goal of video compression is the reduction of redundancy, those less likely directions will, in a well working video coding technology, be represented by a larger number of bits than more likely directions.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for video encoding/decoding. In some examples, an apparatus for video decoding includes receiving circuitry and processing circuitry. For example, the processing circuitry decodes prediction information of a current block in a current coding tree unit (CTU) from a coded video bitstream. The prediction information is indicative of an intra block copy mode. A size of the current CTU is smaller than a maximum size of a reference sample memory for storing reconstructed samples. The processing circuitry determines a block vector that points to a reference block in a same picture as the current block. The reference block has reconstructed samples buffered in the reference sample memory. Then, the processing circuitry reconstructs at least a sample of the current block based on the reconstructed samples of the reference block that are retrieved from the reference sample memory.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry determines the block vector that points to the reference block in a same CTU row as the current CTU and located in a region from an (N−1)th left CTU to an adjacent left CTU of the current CTU, the maximum size of the reference sample memory is N times of the size of the current CTU, and N is a positive interger that is larger than one in an example.

In some examples, the processing circuitry checks whether a top boundary of the reference block is in the same CTU row. Further, the processing circuitry checks whether a bottom boundary of the reference block is in the same CTU row. Then, the processing circuitry checks whether a left boundary of the reference block is to the right of the Nth left CTU, and the right boundary of the reference block is to the left of the current CTU.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry checks whether the reference block is at least partially in an Nth left CTU that is in a same CTU row as the current CTU, the maximum size of the reference sample memory is N times of the size of the current CTU, and N is a positive number that is larger than one.

Further, the processing circuitry checks whether a left boundary of the reference block is in the Nth left CTU. When the reference block is at least partially in the Nth left CTU, the processing circuitry determines whether, in the current CTU, a collocated block of the reference block is at least partially reconstructed. In an example, the processing circuitry determines whether a top-left corner of the collocated block has been reconstructed. The processing circuitry invalids the block vector that points to the reference block when the collocated block in the current CTU is at least partially reconstructed.

In some examples, the processing circuitry determines a reference block region in the Nth left CTU that includes the reference block and determines, in the current CTU, whether a collocated block region of the reference block region is at least partially reconstructed. Then, the processing circuitry invalids the block vector that points to the reference block when the collocated block region in the current CTU is at least partially reconstructed.

Aspects of the disclosure also provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer for video decoding cause the computer to perform the method for video decoding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, the nature, and various advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary subset of intra prediction modes.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of exemplary intra prediction directions.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of a communication system (300) in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of a communication system (400) in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of a decoder in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a simplified block diagram of an encoder in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an encoder in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a decoder in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows an example of intra block copy according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 10A-10D show examples of effective search ranges for the intra block copy mode according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows examples of collocated blocks according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 shows examples of collocated blocks according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 shows a flow chart outlining a process example according to some embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a computer system in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a communication system (300) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The communication system (300) includes a plurality of terminal devices that can communicate with each other, via, for example, a network (350). For example, the communication system (300) includes a first pair of terminal devices (310) and (320) interconnected via the network (350). In the FIG. 3 example, the first pair of terminal devices (310) and (320) performs unidirectional transmission of data. For example, the terminal device (310) may code video data (e.g., a stream of video pictures that are captured by the terminal device (310)) for transmission to the other terminal device (320) via the network (350). The encoded video data can be transmitted in the form of one or more coded video bitstreams. The terminal device (320) may receive the coded video data from the network (350), decode the coded video data to recover the video pictures and display video pictures according to the recovered video data. Unidirectional data transmission may be common in media serving applications and the like.

In another example, the communication system (300) includes a second pair of terminal devices (330) and (340) that performs bidirectional transmission of coded video data that may occur, for example, during videoconferencing. For bidirectional transmission of data, in an example, each terminal device of the terminal devices (330) and (340) may code video data (e.g., a stream of video pictures that are captured by the terminal device) for transmission to the other terminal device of the terminal devices (330) and (340) via the network (350). Each terminal device of the terminal devices (330) and (340) also may receive the coded video data transmitted by the other terminal device of the terminal devices (330) and (340), and may decode the coded video data to recover the video pictures and may display video pictures at an accessible display device according to the recovered video data.

In the FIG. 3 example, the terminal devices (310), (320), (330) and (340) may be illustrated as servers, personal computers and smart phones but the principles of the present disclosure may be not so limited. Embodiments of the present disclosure find application with laptop computers, tablet computers, media players and/or dedicated video conferencing equipment. The network (350) represents any number of networks that convey coded video data among the terminal devices (310), (320), (330) and (340), including for example wireline (wired) and/or wireless communication networks. The communication network (350) may exchange data in circuit-switched and/or packet-switched channels. Representative networks include telecommunications networks, local area networks, wide area networks and/or the Internet. For the purposes of the present discussion, the architecture and topology of the network (350) may be immaterial to the operation of the present disclosure unless explained herein below.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as an example for an application for the disclosed subject matter, the placement of a video encoder and a video decoder in a streaming environment. The disclosed subject matter can be equally applicable to other video enabled applications, including, for example, video conferencing, digital TV, storing of compressed video on digital media including CD, DVD, memory stick and the like, and so on.

A streaming system may include a capture subsystem (413), that can include a video source (401), for example a digital camera, creating for example a stream of video pictures (402) that are uncompressed. In an example, the stream of video pictures (402) includes samples that are taken by the digital camera. The stream of video pictures (402), depicted as a bold line to emphasize a high data volume when compared to encoded video data (404) (or coded video bitstreams), can be processed by an electronic device (420) that includes a video encoder (403) coupled to the video source (401). The video encoder (403) can include hardware, software, or a combination thereof to enable or implement aspects of the disclosed subject matter as described in more detail below. The encoded video data (404) (or encoded video bitstream (404)), depicted as a thin line to emphasize the lower data volume when compared to the stream of video pictures (402), can be stored on a streaming server (405) for future use. One or more streaming client subsystems, such as client subsystems (406) and (408) in FIG. 4 can access the streaming server (405) to retrieve copies (407) and (409) of the encoded video data (404). A client subsystem (406) can include a video decoder (410), for example, in an electronic device (430). The video decoder (410) decodes the incoming copy (407) of the encoded video data and creates an outgoing stream of video pictures (411) that can be rendered on a display (412) (e.g., display screen) or other rendering device (not depicted). In some streaming systems, the encoded video data (404), (407), and (409) (e.g., video bitstreams) can be encoded according to certain video coding/compression standards. Examples of those standards include ITU-T Recommendation H.265. In an example, a video coding standard under development is informally known as Versatile Video Coding (VVC). The disclosed subject matter may be used in the context of VVC.

It is noted that the electronic devices (420) and (430) can include other components (not shown). For example, the electronic device (420) can include a video decoder (not shown) and the electronic device (430) can include a video encoder (not shown) as well.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a video decoder (510) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The video decoder (510) can be included in an electronic device (530). The electronic device (530) can include a receiver (531) (e.g., receiving circuitry). The video decoder (510) can be used in the place of the video decoder (410) in the FIG. 4 example.

The receiver (531) may receive one or more coded video sequences to be decoded by the video decoder (510); in the same or another embodiment, one coded video sequence at a time, where the decoding of each coded video sequence is independent from other coded video sequences. The coded video sequence may be received from a channel (501), which may be a hardware/software link to a storage device which stores the encoded video data. The receiver (531) may receive the encoded video data with other data, for example, coded audio data and/or ancillary data streams, that may be forwarded to their respective using entities (not depicted). The receiver (531) may separate the coded video sequence from the other data. To combat network jitter, a buffer memory (515) may be coupled in between the receiver (531) and an entropy decoder/parser (520) (“parser (520)” henceforth). In certain applications, the buffer memory (515) is part of the video decoder (510). In others, it can be outside of the video decoder (510) (not depicted). In still others, there can be a buffer memory (not depicted) outside of the video decoder (510), for example to combat network jitter, and in addition another buffer memory (515) inside the video decoder (510), for example to handle playout timing. When the receiver (531) is receiving data from a store/forward device of sufficient bandwidth and controllability, or from an isosynchronous network, the buffer memory (515) may not be needed, or can be small. For use on best effort packet networks such as the Internet, the buffer memory (515) may be required, can be comparatively large and can be advantageously of adaptive size, and may at least partially be implemented in an operating system or similar elements (not depicted) outside of the video decoder (510).

The video decoder (510) may include the parser (520) to reconstruct symbols (521) from the coded video sequence. Categories of those symbols include information used to manage operation of the video decoder (510), and potentially information to control a rendering device such as a render device (512) (e.g., a display screen) that is not an integral part of the electronic device (530) but can be coupled to the electronic device (530), as was shown in FIG. 5. The control information for the rendering device(s) may be in the form of Supplemental Enhancement Information (SEI messages) or Video Usability Information (VUI) parameter set fragments (not depicted). The parser (520) may parse/entropy-decode the coded video sequence that is received. The coding of the coded video sequence can be in accordance with a video coding technology or standard, and can follow various principles, including variable length coding, Huffman coding, arithmetic coding with or without context sensitivity, and so forth. The parser (520) may extract from the coded video sequence, a set of subgroup parameters for at least one of the subgroups of pixels in the video decoder, based upon at least one parameter corresponding to the group. Subgroups can include Groups of Pictures (GOPs), pictures, tiles, slices, macroblocks, Coding Units (CUs), blocks, Transform Units (TUs), Prediction Units (PUs) and so forth. The parser (520) may also extract from the coded video sequence information such as transform coefficients, quantizer parameter values, motion vectors, and so forth.

The parser (520) may perform an entropy decoding/parsing operation on the video sequence received from the buffer memory (515), so as to create symbols (521).

Reconstruction of the symbols (521) can involve multiple different units depending on the type of the coded video picture or parts thereof (such as: inter and intra picture, inter and intra block), and other factors. Which units are involved, and how, can be controlled by the subgroup control information that was parsed from the coded video sequence by the parser (520). The flow of such subgroup control information between the parser (520) and the multiple units below is not depicted for clarity.

Beyond the functional blocks already mentioned, the video decoder (510) can be conceptually subdivided into a number of functional units as described below. In a practical implementation operating under commercial constraints, many of these units interact closely with each other and can, at least partly, be integrated into each other. However, for the purpose of describing the disclosed subject matter, the conceptual subdivision into the functional units below is appropriate.

A first unit is the scaler/inverse transform unit (551). The scaler/inverse transform unit (551) receives a quantized transform coefficient as well as control information, including which transform to use, block size, quantization factor, quantization scaling matrices, etc. as symbol(s) (521) from the parser (520). The scaler/inverse transform unit (551) can output blocks comprising sample values, that can be input into aggregator (555).

In some cases, the output samples of the scaler/inverse transform (551) can pertain to an intra coded block; that is: a block that is not using predictive information from previously reconstructed pictures, but can use predictive information from previously reconstructed parts of the current picture. Such predictive information can be provided by an intra picture prediction unit (552). In some cases, the intra picture prediction unit (552) generates a block of the same size and shape of the block under reconstruction, using surrounding already reconstructed information fetched from the current picture buffer (558). The current picture buffer (558) buffers, for example, partly reconstructed current picture and/or fully reconstructed current picture. The aggregator (555), in some cases, adds, on a per sample basis, the prediction information the intra prediction unit (552) has generated to the output sample information as provided by the scaler/inverse transform unit (551).

In other cases, the output samples of the scaler/inverse transform unit (551) can pertain to an inter coded, and potentially motion compensated block. In such a case, a motion compensation prediction unit (553) can access reference picture memory (557) to fetch samples used for prediction. After motion compensating the fetched samples in accordance with the symbols (521) pertaining to the block, these samples can be added by the aggregator (555) to the output of the scaler/inverse transform unit (551) (in this case called the residual samples or residual signal) so as to generate output sample information. The addresses within the reference picture memory (557) from where the motion compensation prediction unit (553) fetches prediction samples can be controlled by motion vectors, available to the motion compensation prediction unit (553) in the form of symbols (521) that can have, for example X, Y, and reference picture components. Motion compensation also can include interpolation of sample values as fetched from the reference picture memory (557) when sub-sample exact motion vectors are in use, motion vector prediction mechanisms, and so forth.

The output samples of the aggregator (555) can be subject to various loop filtering techniques in the loop filter unit (556). Video compression technologies can include in-loop filter technologies that are controlled by parameters included in the coded video sequence (also referred to as coded video bitstream) and made available to the loop filter unit (556) as symbols (521) from the parser (520), but can also be responsive to meta-information obtained during the decoding of previous (in decoding order) parts of the coded picture or coded video sequence, as well as responsive to previously reconstructed and loop-filtered sample values.

The output of the loop filter unit (556) can be a sample stream that can be output to the render device (512) as well as stored in the reference picture memory (557) for use in future inter-picture prediction.

Certain coded pictures, once fully reconstructed, can be used as reference pictures for future prediction. For example, once a coded picture corresponding to a current picture is fully reconstructed and the coded picture has been identified as a reference picture (by, for example, the parser (520)), the current picture buffer (558) can become a part of the reference picture memory (557), and a fresh current picture buffer can be reallocated before commencing the reconstruction of the following coded picture.

The video decoder (510) may perform decoding operations according to a predetermined video compression technology in a standard, such as ITU-T Rec. H.265. The coded video sequence may conform to a syntax specified by the video compression technology or standard being used, in the sense that the coded video sequence adheres to both the syntax of the video compression technology or standard and the profiles as documented in the video compression technology or standard. Specifically, a profile can select certain tools as the only tools available for use under that profile from all the tools available in the video compression technology or standard. Also necessary for compliance can be that the complexity of the coded video sequence is within bounds as defined by the level of the video compression technology or standard. In some cases, levels restrict the maximum picture size, maximum frame rate, maximum reconstruction sample rate (measured in, for example megasamples per second), maximum reference picture size, and so on. Limits set by levels can, in some cases, be further restricted through Hypothetical Reference Decoder (HRD) specifications and metadata for HRD buffer management signaled in the coded video sequence.

In an embodiment, the receiver (531) may receive additional (redundant) data with the encoded video. The additional data may be included as part of the coded video sequence(s). The additional data may be used by the video decoder (510) to properly decode the data and/or to more accurately reconstruct the original video data. Additional data can be in the form of, for example, temporal, spatial, or signal noise ratio (SNR) enhancement layers, redundant slices, redundant pictures, forward error correction codes, and so on.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a video encoder (603) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The video encoder (603) is included in an electronic device (620). The electronic device (620) includes a transmitter (640) (e.g., transmitting circuitry). The video encoder (603) can be used in the place of the video encoder (403) in the FIG. 4 example.

The video encoder (603) may receive video samples from a video source (601) (that is not part of the electronic device (620) in the FIG. 6 example) that may capture video image(s) to be coded by the video encoder (603). In another example, the video source (601) is a part of the electronic device (620).

The video source (601) may provide the source video sequence to be coded by the video encoder (603) in the form of a digital video sample stream that can be of any suitable bit depth (for example: 8 bit, 10 bit, 12 bit, . . . ), any colorspace (for example, BT.601 Y CrCB, RGB, . . . ), and any suitable sampling structure (for example Y CrCb 4:2:0, Y CrCb 4:4:4). In a media serving system, the video source (601) may be a storage device storing previously prepared video. In a videoconferencing system, the video source (601) may be a camera that captures local image information as a video sequence. Video data may be provided as a plurality of individual pictures that impart motion when viewed in sequence. The pictures themselves may be organized as a spatial array of pixels, wherein each pixel can comprise one or more samples depending on the sampling structure, color space, etc. in use. A person skilled in the art can readily understand the relationship between pixels and samples. The description below focuses on samples.

According to an embodiment, the video encoder (603) may code and compress the pictures of the source video sequence into a coded video sequence (643) in real time or under any other time constraints as required by the application. Enforcing appropriate coding speed is one function of a controller (650). In some embodiments, the controller (650) controls other functional units as described below and is functionally coupled to the other functional units. The coupling is not depicted for clarity. Parameters set by the controller (650) can include rate control related parameters (picture skip, quantizer, lambda value of rate-distortion optimization techniques, . . . ), picture size, group of pictures (GOP) layout, maximum motion vector search range, and so forth. The controller (650) can be configured to have other suitable functions that pertain to the video encoder (603) optimized for a certain system design.

In some embodiments, the video encoder (603) is configured to operate in a coding loop. As an oversimplified description, in an example, the coding loop can include a source coder (630) (e.g., responsible for creating symbols, such as a symbol stream, based on an input picture to be coded, and a reference picture(s)), and a (local) decoder (633) embedded in the video encoder (603). The decoder (633) reconstructs the symbols to create the sample data in a similar manner as a (remote) decoder also would create (as any compression between symbols and coded video bitstream is lossless in the video compression technologies considered in the disclosed subject matter). The reconstructed sample stream (sample data) is input to the reference picture memory (634). As the decoding of a symbol stream leads to bit-exact results independent of decoder location (local or remote), the content in the reference picture memory (634) is also bit exact between the local encoder and remote encoder. In other words, the prediction part of an encoder “sees” as reference picture samples exactly the same sample values as a decoder would “see” when using prediction during decoding. This fundamental principle of reference picture synchronicity (and resulting drift, if synchronicity cannot be maintained, for example because of channel errors) is used in some related arts as well.

The operation of the “local” decoder (633) can be the same as of a “remote” decoder, such as the video decoder (510), which has already been described in detail above in conjunction with FIG. 5. Briefly referring also to FIG. 5, however, as symbols are available and encoding/decoding of symbols to a coded video sequence by an entropy coder (645) and the parser (520) can be lossless, the entropy decoding parts of the video decoder (510), including the buffer memory (515), and parser (520) may not be fully implemented in the local decoder (633).

An observation that can be made at this point is that any decoder technology except the parsing/entropy decoding that is present in a decoder also necessarily needs to be present, in substantially identical functional form, in a corresponding encoder. For this reason, the disclosed subject matter focuses on decoder operation. The description of encoder technologies can be abbreviated as they are the inverse of the comprehensively described decoder technologies. Only in certain areas a more detail description is required and provided below.

During operation, in some examples, the source coder (630) may perform motion compensated predictive coding, which codes an input picture predictively with reference to one or more previously-coded picture from the video sequence that were designated as “reference pictures”. In this manner, the coding engine (632) codes differences between pixel blocks of an input picture and pixel blocks of reference picture(s) that may be selected as prediction reference(s) to the input picture.

The local video decoder (633) may decode coded video data of pictures that may be designated as reference pictures, based on symbols created by the source coder (630). Operations of the coding engine (632) may advantageously be lossy processes. When the coded video data may be decoded at a video decoder (not shown in FIG. 6), the reconstructed video sequence typically may be a replica of the source video sequence with some errors. The local video decoder (633) replicates decoding processes that may be performed by the video decoder on reference pictures and may cause reconstructed reference pictures to be stored in the reference picture cache (634). In this manner, the video encoder (603) may store copies of reconstructed reference pictures locally that have common content as the reconstructed reference pictures that will be obtained by a far-end video decoder (absent transmission errors).

The predictor (635) may perform prediction searches for the coding engine (632). That is, for a new picture to be coded, the predictor (635) may search the reference picture memory (634) for sample data (as candidate reference pixel blocks) or certain metadata such as reference picture motion vectors, block shapes, and so on, that may serve as an appropriate prediction reference for the new pictures. The predictor (635) may operate on a sample block-by-pixel block basis to find appropriate prediction references. In some cases, as determined by search results obtained by the predictor (635), an input picture may have prediction references drawn from multiple reference pictures stored in the reference picture memory (634).

The controller (650) may manage coding operations of the source coder (630), including, for example, setting of parameters and subgroup parameters used for encoding the video data.

Output of all aforementioned functional units may be subjected to entropy coding in the entropy coder (645). The entropy coder (645) translates the symbols as generated by the various functional units into a coded video sequence, by lossless compressing the symbols according to technologies such as Huffman coding, variable length coding, arithmetic coding, and so forth.

The transmitter (640) may buffer the coded video sequence(s) as created by the entropy coder (645) to prepare for transmission via a communication channel (660), which may be a hardware/software link to a storage device which would store the encoded video data. The transmitter (640) may merge coded video data from the video coder (603) with other data to be transmitted, for example, coded audio data and/or ancillary data streams (sources not shown).

The controller (650) may manage operation of the video encoder (603). During coding, the controller (650) may assign to each coded picture a certain coded picture type, which may affect the coding techniques that may be applied to the respective picture. For example, pictures often may be assigned as one of the following picture types:

An Intra Picture (I picture) may be one that may be coded and decoded without using any other picture in the sequence as a source of prediction. Some video codecs allow for different types of intra pictures, including, for example Independent Decoder Refresh (“IDR”) Pictures. A person skilled in the art is aware of those variants of I pictures and their respective applications and features.

A predictive picture (P picture) may be one that may be coded and decoded using intra prediction or inter prediction using at most one motion vector and reference index to predict the sample values of each block.

A bi-directionally predictive picture (B Picture) may be one that may be coded and decoded using intra prediction or inter prediction using at most two motion vectors and reference indices to predict the sample values of each block. Similarly, multiple-predictive pictures can use more than two reference pictures and associated metadata for the reconstruction of a single block.

Source pictures commonly may be subdivided spatially into a plurality of sample blocks (for example, blocks of 4×4, 8×8, 4×8, or 16×16 samples each) and coded on a block-by-block basis. Blocks may be coded predictively with reference to other (already coded) blocks as determined by the coding assignment applied to the blocks' respective pictures. For example, blocks of I pictures may be coded non-predictively or they may be coded predictively with reference to already coded blocks of the same picture (spatial prediction or intra prediction). Pixel blocks of P pictures may be coded predictively, via spatial prediction or via temporal prediction with reference to one previously coded reference picture. Blocks of B pictures may be coded predictively, via spatial prediction or via temporal prediction with reference to one or two previously coded reference pictures.

The video encoder (603) may perform coding operations according to a predetermined video coding technology or standard, such as ITU-T Rec. H.265. In its operation, the video encoder (603) may perform various compression operations, including predictive coding operations that exploit temporal and spatial redundancies in the input video sequence. The coded video data, therefore, may conform to a syntax specified by the video coding technology or standard being used.

In an embodiment, the transmitter (640) may transmit additional data with the encoded video. The source coder (630) may include such data as part of the coded video sequence. Additional data may comprise temporal/spatial/SNR enhancement layers, other forms of redundant data such as redundant pictures and slices, SEI messages, VUI parameter set fragments, and so on.

A video may be captured as a plurality of source pictures (video pictures) in a temporal sequence. Intra-picture prediction (often abbreviated to intra prediction) makes use of spatial correlation in a given picture, and inter-picture prediction makes uses of the (temporal or other) correlation between the pictures. In an example, a specific picture under encoding/decoding, which is referred to as a current picture, is partitioned into blocks. When a block in the current picture is similar to a reference block in a previously coded and still buffered reference picture in the video, the block in the current picture can be coded by a vector that is referred to as a motion vector. The motion vector points to the reference block in the reference picture, and can have a third dimension identifying the reference picture, in case multiple reference pictures are in use.

In some embodiments, a bi-prediction technique can be used in the inter-picture prediction. According to the bi-prediction technique, two reference pictures, such as a first reference picture and a second reference picture that are both prior in decoding order to the current picture in the video (but may be in the past and future, respectively, in display order) are used. A block in the current picture can be coded by a first motion vector that points to a first reference block in the first reference picture, and a second motion vector that points to a second reference block in the second reference picture. The block can be predicted by a combination of the first reference block and the second reference block.

Further, a merge mode technique can be used in the inter-picture prediction to improve coding efficiency.

According to some embodiments of the disclosure, predictions, such as inter-picture predictions and intra-picture predictions are performed in the unit of blocks. For example, according to the HEVC standard, a picture in a sequence of video pictures is partitioned into coding tree units (CTU) for compression, the CTUs in a picture have the same size, such as 64×64 pixels, 32×32 pixels, or 16×16 pixels. In general, a CTU includes three coding tree blocks (CTBs), which are one luma CTB and two chroma CTBs. Each CTU can be recursively quadtree split into one or multiple coding units (CUs). For example, a CTU of 64×64 pixels can be split into one CU of 64×64 pixels, or 4 CUs of 32×32 pixels, or 16 CUs of 16×16 pixels. In an example, each CU is analyzed to determine a prediction type for the CU, such as an inter prediction type or an intra prediction type. The CU is split into one or more prediction units (PUs) depending on the temporal and/or spatial predictability. Generally, each PU includes a luma prediction block (PB), and two chroma PBs. In an embodiment, a prediction operation in coding (encoding/decoding) is performed in the unit of a prediction block. Using a luma prediction block as an example of a prediction block, the prediction block includes a matrix of values (e.g., luma values) for pixels, such as 8×8 pixels, 16×16 pixels, 8×16 pixels, 16×8 pixels, and the like.

FIG. 7 shows a diagram of a video encoder (703) according to another embodiment of the disclosure. The video encoder (703) is configured to receive a processing block (e.g., a prediction block) of sample values within a current video picture in a sequence of video pictures, and encode the processing block into a coded picture that is part of a coded video sequence. In an example, the video encoder (703) is used in the place of the video encoder (403) in the FIG. 4 example.

In an HEVC example, the video encoder (703) receives a matrix of sample values for a processing block, such as a prediction block of 8×8 samples, and the like. The video encoder (703) determines whether the processing block is best coded using intra mode, inter mode, or bi-prediction mode using, for example, rate-distortion optimization. When the processing block is to be coded in intra mode, the video encoder (703) may use an intra prediction technique to encode the processing block into the coded picture; and when the processing block is to be coded in inter mode or bi-prediction mode, the video encoder (703) may use an inter prediction or bi-prediction technique, respectively, to encode the processing block into the coded picture. In certain video coding technologies, merge mode can be an inter picture prediction submode where the motion vector is derived from one or more motion vector predictors without the benefit of a coded motion vector component outside the predictors. In certain other video coding technologies, a motion vector component applicable to the subject block may be present. In an example, the video encoder (703) includes other components, such as a mode decision module (not shown) to determine the mode of the processing blocks.

In the FIG. 7 example, the video encoder (703) includes the inter encoder (730), an intra encoder (722), a residue calculator (723), a switch (726), a residue encoder (724), a general controller (721), and an entropy encoder (725) coupled together as shown in FIG. 7.

The inter encoder (730) is configured to receive the samples of the current block (e.g., a processing block), compare the block to one or more reference blocks in reference pictures (e.g., blocks in previous pictures and later pictures), generate inter prediction information (e.g., description of redundant information according to inter encoding technique, motion vectors, merge mode information), and calculate inter prediction results (e.g., predicted block) based on the inter prediction information using any suitable technique. In some examples, the reference pictures are decoded reference pictures that are decoded based on the encoded video information.

The intra encoder (722) is configured to receive the samples of the current block (e.g., a processing block), in some cases compare the block to blocks already coded in the same picture, generate quantized coefficients after transform, and in some cases also intra prediction information (e.g., an intra prediction direction information according to one or more intra encoding techniques). In an example, the intra encoder (722) also calculates intra prediction results (e.g., predicted block) based on the intra prediction information and reference blocks in the same picture.

The general controller (721) is configured to determine general control data and control other components of the video encoder (703) based on the general control data. In an example, the general controller (721) determines the mode of the block, and provides a control signal to the switch (726) based on the mode. For example, when the mode is the intra mode, the general controller (721) controls the switch (726) to select the intra mode result for use by the residue calculator (723), and controls the entropy encoder (725) to select the intra prediction information and include the intra prediction information in the bitstream; and when the mode is the inter mode, the general controller (721) controls the switch (726) to select the inter prediction result for use by the residue calculator (723), and controls the entropy encoder (725) to select the inter prediction information and include the inter prediction information in the bitstream.

The residue calculator (723) is configured to calculate a difference (residue data) between the received block and prediction results selected from the intra encoder (722) or the inter encoder (730). The residue encoder (724) is configured to operate based on the residue data to encode the residue data to generate the transform coefficients. In an example, the residue encoder (724) is configured to convert the residue data from a spatial domain to a frequency domain, and generate the transform coefficients. The transform coefficients are then subject to quantization processing to obtain quantized transform coefficients. In various embodiments, the video encoder (703) also includes a residue decoder (728). The residue decoder (728) is configured to perform inverse-transform, and generate the decoded residue data. The decoded residue data can be suitably used by the intra encoder (722) and the inter encoder (730). For example, the inter encoder (730) can generate decoded blocks based on the decoded residue data and inter prediction information, and the intra encoder (722) can generate decoded blocks based on the decoded residue data and the intra prediction information. The decoded blocks are suitably processed to generate decoded pictures and the decoded pictures can be buffered in a memory circuit (not shown) and used as reference pictures in some examples.

The entropy encoder (725) is configured to format the bitstream to include the encoded block. The entropy encoder (725) is configured to include various information according to a suitable standard, such as the HEVC standard. In an example, the entropy encoder (725) is configured to include the general control data, the selected prediction information (e.g., intra prediction information or inter prediction information), the residue information, and other suitable information in the bitstream. Note that, according to the disclosed subject matter, when coding a block in the merge submode of either inter mode or bi-prediction mode, there is no residue information.

FIG. 8 shows a diagram of a video decoder (810) according to another embodiment of the disclosure. The video decoder (810) is configured to receive coded pictures that are part of a coded video sequence, and decode the coded pictures to generate reconstructed pictures. In an example, the video decoder (810) is used in the place of the video decoder (410) in the FIG. 4 example.

In the FIG. 8 example, the video decoder (810) includes an entropy decoder (871), an inter decoder (880), a residue decoder (873), a reconstruction module (874), and an intra decoder (872) coupled together as shown in FIG. 8.

The entropy decoder (871) can be configured to reconstruct, from the coded picture, certain symbols that represent the syntax elements of which the coded picture is made up. Such symbols can include, for example, the mode in which a block is coded (such as, for example, intra mode, inter mode, bi-predicted mode, the latter two in merge submode or another submode), prediction information (such as, for example, intra prediction information or inter prediction information) that can identify certain sample or metadata that is used for prediction by the intra decoder (872) or the inter decoder (880), respectively, residual information in the form of, for example, quantized transform coefficients, and the like. In an example, when the prediction mode is inter or bi-predicted mode, the inter prediction information is provided to the inter decoder (880); and when the prediction type is the intra prediction type, the intra prediction information is provided to the intra decoder (872). The residual information can be subject to inverse quantization and is provided to the residue decoder (873).

The inter decoder (880) is configured to receive the inter prediction information, and generate inter prediction results based on the inter prediction information.

The intra decoder (872) is configured to receive the intra prediction information, and generate prediction results based on the intra prediction information.

The residue decoder (873) is configured to perform inverse quantization to extract de-quantized transform coefficients, and process the de-quantized transform coefficients to convert the residual from the frequency domain to the spatial domain. The residue decoder (873) may also require certain control information (to include the Quantizer Parameter (QP)), and that information may be provided by the entropy decoder (871) (data path not depicted as this may be low volume control information only).

The reconstruction module (874) is configured to combine, in the spatial domain, the residual as output by the residue decoder (873) and the prediction results (as output by the inter or intra prediction modules as the case may be) to form a reconstructed block, that may be part of the reconstructed picture, which in turn may be part of the reconstructed video. It is noted that other suitable operations, such as a deblocking operation and the like, can be performed to improve the visual quality.

It is noted that the video encoders (403), (603), and (703), and the video decoders (410), (510), and (810) can be implemented using any suitable technique. In an embodiment, the video encoders (403), (603), and (703), and the video decoders (410), (510), and (810) can be implemented using one or more integrated circuits. In another embodiment, the video encoders (403), (603), and (603), and the video decoders (410), (510), and (810) can be implemented using one or more processors that execute software instructions.

Aspects of the disclosure provide encoding/decoding techniques for intra picture block compensation, specifically techniques for search range adjustment with variable CTU size.

Block based compensation can be used for inter prediction and intra prediction. For the inter prediction, block based compensation from a different picture is known as motion compensation. For intra prediction, block based compensation can also be done from a previously reconstructed area within the same picture. The block based compensation from reconstructed area within the same picture is referred to as intra picture block compensation, current picture referencing (CPR) or intra block copy (IBC). A displacement vector that indicates the offset between the current block and the reference block in the same picture is referred to as a block vector (or BV for short). Different from a motion vector in motion compensation, which can be at any value (positive or negative, at either x or y direction), a block vector has a few constraints to ensure that the reference block is available and already reconstructed. Also, in some examples, for parallel processing consideration, some reference area that is tile boundary or wavefront ladder shape boundary is excluded.

The coding of a block vector could be either explicit or implicit. In the explicit mode (or referred to as advanced motion vector prediction (AMVP) mode in inter coding), the difference between a block vector and its predictor is signaled; in the implicit mode, the block vector is recovered from a predictor (referred to as block vector predictor), in a similar way as a motion vector in merge mode. The resolution of a block vector, in some implementations, is restricted to integer positions; in other systems, the block vector is allowed to point to fractional positions.

In some examples, the use of intra block copy at block level, can be signaled using a block level flag that is referred to as an IBC flag. In an embodiment, the IBC flag is signaled when the current block is not coded in merge mode. In other examples, the use of the intra block copy at block level is signaled by a reference index approach. The current picture under decoding is then treated as a reference picture. In an example, such a reference picture is put in the last position of a list of reference pictures. This special reference picture is also managed together with other temporal reference pictures in a buffer, such as decoded picture buffer (DPB).

There are also some variations for intra block copy, such as flipped intra block copy (the reference block is flipped horizontally or vertically before used to predict current block), or line based intra block copy (each compensation unit inside an M×N coding block is an M×1 or 1×N line).

FIG. 9 shows an example of intra block copy according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Current picture (900) is under decoding. The current picture (900) includes a reconstructed area (910) (doted area) and to-be-decoded area (920) (white area). A current block (930) is under reconstruction by a decoder. The current block (930) can be reconstructed from a reference block (940) that is in the reconstructed area (910). The position offset between the reference block (940) and the current block (930) is referred to as a block vector (950) (or BV (950)).

In some examples (e.g., VVC), the search range of intra block copy mode is constrained to be within the current CTU. Then, the memory requirement to store reference samples for the intra block copy mode is 1 (largest) CTU size of samples. In an example, the (largest) CTU has a size of 128×128 samples. The CTU is divided into four block regions that each has a size of 64×64 samples, in some examples. Thus, in some embodiments, the total memory (e.g., cache memory with fast access speed than a main storage) is able to store samples for a size of 128×128, and the total memory includes an existing reference sample memory portion to store reconstructed samples in the current block, such as a 64×64 region, and additional memory portion to store samples of three other regions of the size 64×64. Thus, in some examples, the effective search range of the intra block copy mode is extended to some part of the left CTU while the total memory requirement for storing reference pixels are kept unchanged (e.g., 1 CTU size, 4 times of the 64×64 reference sample memory in total).

In some embodiments, an update process is performed to update the stored reference samples from the left CTU to the reconstructed samples from the current CTU. Specifically, in some examples, the update process is done on a 64×64 luma sample basis. In an embodiment, for each of the four 64×64 block regions in the CTU size memory, the reference samples in the regions from the left CTU can be used to predict the coding block in current CTU with CPR mode until any of the blocks in the same region of the current CTU is being coded or has been coded.

FIGS. 10A-10D show examples of effective search ranges for the intra block copy mode according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In some examples, an encoder/decoder includes a cache memory that is able to store samples of one CTU, such as 128×128 samples. Further, in the FIGS. 10A-10D examples, a current block region for prediction has a size of 64×64 samples. It is noted that the examples can be suitably modified for current block region of other suitable sizes.

Each of FIGS. 10A-10D shows a current CTU (1020) and a left CTU (1010). The left CTU (1010) includes four block regions (1011)-(1014), and each block region has a sample size of 64×64 samples. The current CTU (1020) includes four block regions (1021)-(1024), and each block region has a sample size of 64×64 samples. The current CTU (1020) is the CTU that includes a current block region (as shown by a label “Curr” and with vertical stripe pattern) under reconstruction. The left CTU (1010) is the immediate neighbor on the left side of the current CTU (1020). It is noted in FIGS. 10A-10D, the grey blocks are block regions that are already reconstructed, and the white blocks are block regions that are to be reconstructed.

In FIG. 10A, the current block region under reconstruction is the block region (1021). The cache memory stores reconstructed samples in the block regions (1012), (1013) and (1014), and the cache memory will be used to store reconstructed samples of the current block region (1021). In the FIG. 10A example, the effective search range for the current block region (1021) includes the block regions (1012), (1013) and (1014) in the left CTU (1010) with reconstructed samples stored in the cache memory. It is noted that, in an embodiment, the reconstructed samples of the block region (1011) are stored in a main memory (e.g., are copied from the cache memory to the main memory before the reconstruction of the block region (1021)) that has a slower access speed than the cache memory.

In FIG. 10B, the current block region under reconstruction is the block region (1022). The cache memory stores reconstructed samples in the block regions (1013), (1014) and (1021), and the cache memory will be used to store reconstructed samples of the current block region (1022). In the FIG. 10B example, the effective search range for the current block region (1022) includes the block regions (1013) and (1014) in the left CTU (1010) and (1021) in the current CTU (1020) with reconstructed samples stored in the cache memory. It is noted that, in an embodiment, the reconstructed samples of the block region (1012) are stored in a main memory (e.g., are copied from the cache memory to the main memory before the reconstruction of the block region (1022)) that has a slower access speed than the cache memory.

In FIG. 10C, the current block region under reconstruction is the block region (1023). The cache memory stores reconstructed samples in the block regions (1014), (1021) and (1022), and the cache memory will be used to store reconstructed samples of the current block region (1023). In the FIG. 10C example, the effective search range for the current block (1023) includes the block regions (1014) in the left CTU (1010) and (1021) and (1022) in the current CTU (1020) with reconstructed samples stored in the cache memory. It is noted that, in an embodiment, the reconstructed samples of the block region (1013) are stored in a main memory (e.g., are copied from the cache memory to the main memory before the reconstruction of the block region (1023)) that has a slower access speed than the cache memory.

In FIG. 10D, the current block region under reconstruction is the block region (1024). The cache memory stores reconstructed samples in the block regions (1021), (1022) and (1023), and the cache memory will be used to store reconstructed samples of the current block region (1024). In the FIG. 10D example, the effective search range for the current block region (1024) includes the blocks (1021), (1022) and (1023) in the current CTU (1020) with reconstructed samples stored in the cache memory. It is noted that, in an embodiment, the reconstructed samples of the block region (1014) are stored in a main memory (e.g., are copied from the cache memory to the main memory before the reconstruction of the block region (1024)) that has a slower access speed than the cache memory.

In the above examples, the cache memory has a total memory space for 1 (largest) CTU size. The examples can be suitably adjusted for other suitable CTU sizes. It is noted that the cache memory is referred to as reference sample memory in some examples.

The proposed methods may be used separately or combined in any order. Further, each of the methods (or embodiments), encoder, and decoder may be implemented by processing circuitry (e.g., one or more processors or one or more integrated circuits). In one example, the one or more processors execute a program that is stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In the following, the term block may be interpreted as a prediction block, a coding block, or a coding unit, i.e. CU.

Aspects of the disclosure provide techniques for search range adjustment when the CTU size is varied, for example to be smaller than the maximum CTU size. In implementation, the designated memory to store reference samples of previously coded CUs for future intra block copy reference is referred as reference sample memory (referred to as cache memory in some examples). In the present disclosure, methods are proposed to improve intra block copy performance under certain reference area constraints. More specifically, the size of reference sample memory for search is constrained. In the following discussion, the size of reference sample memory is fixed to be 128×128 luma samples (together with corresponding chroma samples). In some examples (e.g., in VVC standard), one maximum CTU size of reference samples is considered as the designated memory size. The proposed methods can be further extended to different memory sizes/CTU sizes combinations, such as 64×64 luma samples (plus corresponding chroma samples) for the CTU size and 128×128 luma sample (and corresponding chroma samples) for the memory size, etc.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, collocated blocks in the present disclosure refer to a pair of blocks that have the same sizes and same shape, one of the collocated blocks is in the previously coded CTU, the other of the collocated blocks is in the current CTU, and one block in the pair is referred to as a collated block of the other block in the pair. Further, when the memory buffer size is designed to store a CTU of the maximum size (e.g., 128×128), then the previous CTU refers to the CTU that has one CTU width luma sample offset to the left of current CTU in an example. In addition, these two collocated blocks have the same location offset values relative to the top-left corner of their own CTU, respectively. Or in other words, collocated blocks are those two that have the same y coordinate relative to the top-left corner of a picture, but with a CTU width difference in x coordinates to one another in some examples.

FIG. 11 shows examples of collocated blocks according to some embodiments of the disclosure. In the FIG. 11 example, a current CTU and a left CTU during decoding are shown. The area that has been reconstructed is shown in grey color, and the area to be reconstructed is shown in white color. FIG. 11 shows three examples of reference blocks in the left CTU for the current block in the intra block copy mode during decoding. The three examples are shown as reference block 1, reference block 2 and reference block 3. FIG. 11 also shows the collocated block 1 for the reference block 1, collocated block 2 for the reference block 2 and collocated block 3 for the reference block 3. In the FIG. 11 example, the reference sample memory size is a CTU size. Reconstructed samples of the current CTU and the left CTU are stored in the reference sample memory in a complementary manner. When a reconstructed sample of the current CTU is written to the reference sample memory, the reconstructed sample is written in the place of a collated sample in the left CTU. In an example, for the reference block 3, because the collocated block 3 is in the current CTU has not yet been reconstructed, thus the reference block 3 can be found from the reference sample memory. The reference sample memory still stores samples of the reference block 3 from the left CTU and can be accessed with fast speed to retrieve the samples of the reference block 3, and the reference block 3 can be used to reconstruct the current block in the intra block copy mode in an example.

In another example, for the reference block 1, the collocated block 1 in the current CTU has been reconstructed completed, thus the reference sample memory stores samples of the collocated block 1, and the samples of the reference block 1 have been stored in, for example, an off-chip storage that has relative high delay compared to the reference sample memory. Thus, in an example, the reference block 1 cannot be found in the reference sample memory, and the reference block 1 cannot be used to reconstruct the current block in the intra block copy mode in an example.

Similarly, in another example, for the reference block 2, a part of the collocated block 2 has been reconstructed, thus the reference sample memory has been updated to store samples of the collocated block 2. Thus, in an example, the reference block 2 cannot be a valid reference block for reconstructing the current block in the intra block copy mode.

Generally, in the intra block copy mode, for a reference block in the previously decoded CTU, when the collocated block in the current CTU has not yet been reconstructed, then samples of the reference block are available in the reference sample memory, and the reference sample memory can be accessed to retrieve the samples of the reference block to use as reference for reconstruction in the intra block copy mode.

It is noted that, in the above examples, the top-left corner sample of the collated block in the current CTU, which is also referred to as the collocated sample of the top-left corner of the reference block, is checked. When the collocated sample in the current CTU has not yet been reconstructed, the rest of samples for the reference block will all be available for use as reference in the intra block copy.

It is also noted that, in the above examples, the memory size of the reference sample memory is the size of one CTU, then the previously decoded CTU means the CTU immediate to the left of current CTU.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the memory size of the reference sample memory can be larger than the size of one CTU.

FIG. 12 shows examples of collocated blocks according to some embodiments of the disclosure. In the FIG. 12 example, the reference sample memory is configured to have N times of CTU size (N is an integer that is equal to or greater than 2), thus the reference sample memory can store reconstructed samples from N+1 CTUs, such as a current CTU (1210), a furthest left CTU (1230), and mid-left CTU(s) (1220) that are between of the current CTU (1210) and the furthest left CTU (1230) as shown in FIG. 12. The number of the left CTU(s) is equal to N−1. Reconstructed samples of the current CTU (1210) and the furthest left CTU (1230) are stored in the reference sample memory in a complementary manner. To store a reconstructed sample of the current CTU (1210) in the reference sample memory, the reconstructed sample of the current CTU (1210) is written in the place of a collated sample of the furthest left CTU (1230). The area that has been reconstructed is shown in grey color, and the area to be reconstructed is shown in white color. In some embodiments, the left CTUs are numbered from the immediate left CTU to furthest left CTU. For example, the immediate left CTU to the current CTU 120 is the first left CTU, the furthest left CTU 1230 is the Nth left CTU, and the CTU to the right of the furthest left CTU is the (N−1) left CTU.

It is noted that in the FIG. 12 example, the reference sample memory size is N times of the CTU size, thus the samples of the mid-left CTU(s) (1220) are all available during the reconstruction of samples in the current CTU (1210). However, the samples of the furthest left CTU (1230) are partially available in the reference sample memory and are under similar constrains as shown in the FIG. 11 example. For example, three examples of reference blocks in the furthest left CTU (1230) for the current block in the intra block copy mode during decoding are shown as reference block 1, reference block 2 and reference block 3. FIG. 12 also shows the collocated block 1 for the reference block 1, collocated block 2 for the reference block 2 and collocated block 3 for the reference block 3. In this case, the x coordinate offset between a pair of collocated blocks or samples will be N times of the CTU width. Other description of FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 11, and has been provided above and will be omitted here for clarity purposes.

It is noted that, in some examples, the portion of the reconstruction samples of the furthest left CTU (1230) and the portion of the reconstructed samples of the current CTU (1210) are complementary in the reference sample memory. When a sample of the current CTU (1210) is reconstructed, the reconstructed sample of the current CTU (1210) is written into the reference sample memory in the place of a reconstructed sample of the furthest left CTU (1230). The reconstructed sample of the furthest left CTU (1230) has been written to a main memory before overwritten with the reconstructed sample of the current CTU(1210) in the reference sample memory.

It is noted that the FIG. 12 example can be used for scenarios where the reference sample memory size is equal to or larger than the CTU size. For example, when the reference sample memory size is four times of the CTU size, the mid-left CTU(s) (1220) include three CTUs, and when the reference sample memory size is sixteen times of the CTU size, the mid-left CTU(s) (1220) include fifteen CTUs. In an example, when the reference sample memory size is equal to the CTU size, there is no mid-left CTU (1220).

Aspects of the disclosure provide techniques for search range adjustment in the intra block copy mode when the current CTU size is less than the maximum CTU size, and the reference sample memory size is equal to 1 maximum CTU size. Then, the reference sample memory can buffer multiple previously decoded CTUs. When a reference block comes from the immediate left CTU, no additional condition checks are needed for availability. The whole left CTU is available for intra block copy reference in this case. In some embodiments, a unified condition check is used for the case that the current CTU size is equal to maximum CTU size and the case that the current CTU size is smaller than the maximum CTU size.

Various parameters are used in the following description of embodiments.

MaxCtbLog2SizeY denotes, in log2 domain, the maximum allowed CTU size at one side (height or width) when CTU has square shape. For example, when the maximum allowed CTU is 128×128 luma samples high, MaxCtbLog2SizeY is equal to 7.

CtbLog2SizeY denotes, in log2 domain, the CTU size at one side (height or width) when CTU has square shape.

cbHeight denotes to the height of a coding block (also referred to as current block); cbWidth denotes the width of the coding block. The location of the top left corner of the coding block is denoted as (xCb, yCb), the location of the top right corner of the coding block is denoted as (xCb+cbWidth−1, yCb), the location of the bottom left corner of the coding block is denoted as (xCb, yCb+cbHeight−1).

mvL0 denotes to a block vector, mvL0[0] denotes to x component of the block vector mvL0 in 1/16 pel resolution, mvL0[1] denotes to y component of the block vector mvL0 in 1/16 pel resolution. Thus, the integer value of the x component is obtained by right shifting mvL0[0] by four bits, and the integer value of the y component is obtained by right shifting mvL0[1] by four bits.

According to some aspects of the disclosure, the block vector mvL0 is constrained using a two-step constrain process to determine whether the mvL0 is a valid block vector that points to a reference block in the intra block copy mode and the reference block is fully stored in the reference sample memory. Thus, the reference sample memory can be accessed without retrieving reference samples from a main memory (e.g., an off-chip memory).

In a first step, the block vector mvL0 is checked to determine whether the block vector is in a potential valid block vector that points to a CTU based search range that includes any CTUs with all or a portion of the reconstructed samples in the reference sample memory. For example, the CTU based search range includes current CTU, the furthest left CTU, and any left CTUs between the current CTU and the furthest left CTU. In an example, the CTU size is equal to the maximum allowed CTU size, then the CTU based search range includes the current CTU and the furthest left CTU (which is referred to as the left CTU in FIG. 11), and no mid-left CTU between the current CTU and the furthest left CTU.

When the block vector mvL0 is a potential valid block vector, the block vector mvL0 is further check in a second step to determine whether the block vector is a valid block vector. For example, in the second step, when the block vector points to a reference block in the mid-left CTU, then the block vector is a valid block vector. In the second step, when the block vector points to a reference block in the furthest left CTU, the block vector mvL0 is further checked to determine whether the collocated block of the reference block has been reconstructed or not.

In a first embodiment, the CTU size is equal to the maximum allowed CTU size, thus the reconstructed samples stored in the reference sample memory are from either the current CTU or the furthest left CTU (left CTU in FIG. 11).

In the first step, the mvL0 is checked to determine whether the block vector points to the CTU based search range that includes the current CTU and the furthest left CTU. In some examples, CTUs with the same y values form a CTU row, and CTUs with the same x values form a CTU column. In some examples, the constrains for the block vector mvL0 are expressed by Eq. 1-Eq. 4:

(yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4))>>CtbLog2SizeY=yCb>>CtbLog2SizeY   (Eq. 1)

(yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4)+cbHeight−1)>>CtbLog2SizeY=yCb>>CtbLog2SizeY   (Eq. 2)

(xCb+(mvL0[0]>>4))>>CtbLog2SizeY>=(xCb>>CtbLog2SizeY)−1   (Eq. 3)

(xCb+(mvL0[0]>>4)+cbWidth−1)>>CtbLog2SizeY<=(xCb>>CtbLog2SizeY)   (Eq. 4)

When Eq. 1 is satisfied, the top of the reference block is in the same CTU row as the current block. When Eq. 2 is satisfied, the bottom of the reference block is in the same CTU row as the current block. When Eq. 3 is satisfied, the left of the reference block is in the same CTU column as the current block or in the immediate left CTU column from the current block in an example. When Eq. 4 is satisfied, the right of the reference block is in the same CTU column as the current block or in the left CTU column from the current block in an example. Thus, when Eq. 1-Eq. 4 are satisfied in an example, the reference block is in the CTU based search range.

In the second step, when the reference block is in the furthest left CTU, for example, when Eq. 5 is satisfied, the block vector mvL0 is checked to determine whether the collocated block of the reference block has been reconstructed or not.

(xCb+(mvL[0]>>4))>>CtbLog2SizeY=(xCb>>CtbLog2SizeY)−1   (Eq. 5)

In an example, the top-left corner of the current block is at (xCb, yCb), then the top-left corner of the reference block is at (xCb+(mvL[0]>>4), yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4)), and the top-left corner of the collocated block to the reference block is at (xCb+(mvL[0]>>4)+(1<<CtbLog2SizeY), yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4)). In an example, the top-left corner of the collocated block is used to check on a map that tracks reconstruction process of a picture. When the location on the map is “false” which indicates that the collocated block has not been reconstructed in an example, thus the reference block is available in the reference sample memory and can be used to reconstruct the current block in the intra block copy mode. Then the block vector is a valid block vector. However, when the location on the map is “true” which indicates that at least a portion of the collocated block has been reconstructed in an example, thus the samples of the collocated block have been stored in the reference sample memory in the place of the samples of the reference block, and samples of the reference block are not available in the reference sample memory. Then, the block vector mvL0 is not a valid block vector.

In the first embodiment, the second step is based on collocated block, and the process in the first embodiment is referred to as coding unit (CU) basis update process.

In a second embodiment, the second step is based on a block region. For example, when a CTU has 128×128 samples, the CTU can be divided into four block regions that each has 64×64 samples. Similarly, in the second embodiment, the CTU size is the equal to the maximum allowed CTU size, thus the reconstructed samples stored in the reference sample memory are from either the current CTU or the furthest left CTU (left CTU in FIG. 11).

In the first step, the block vector mvL0 is checked to determine whether the block vector mvL0 points to the CTU based search range that includes the current CTU and the furthest left CTU, such as using Eq. 1-Eq. 4 in the similar manner as in the first embodiment.

In the second step, when the reference block is in the furthest left CTU, for example, when Eq. 5 is satisfied, the block vector mvL0 is checked to determine whether the collocated block region (e.g., 64×64 block region) for the reference block has been reconstructed or not.

In an example, the top-left corner of the current block is at (xCb, yCb), then the top-left corner of the reference block is at (xCb+(mvL[0]>>4), yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4)), and the top-left corner of the collocated block region for the reference block is at (((xCb+(mvL[0]>>4)+(1<<CtbLog2SizeY))>>(CtbLog2SizeY−1))<<(CtbLog2SizeY−1), ((yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4))>>(CtbLog2SizeY−1))<<(CtbLog2SizeY−1)). In an example, the top-left corner of the collocated block region is used to check on a map that tracks reconstruction process of a picture. When the location on the map is “false” which indicates that the collocated block region has not been reconstructed in an example, thus the reference block is available in the reference sample memory and can be used to reconstruct the current block in the intra block copy mode. Then the block vector is a valid block vector. However, when the location on the map is “true” which indicates that the collocated block region has been reconstructed or is partially reconstructed in an example, then the block vector mvL0 is not a valid block vector.

In the second embodiment, the second step is based on collocated block region, and the process in the second embodiment is referred to as block region basis update process. In the second embodiment, when any sample of a 64×64 block region (collocated block region) in the current CTU has been reconstructed, the corresponding region in the reference sample memory where the (current sample's) collocated sample belongs to will not be available for intra block copy reference.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, CTU size change usually happens with width and/or height been doubled or reduced by half. In an example, when the width and height are reduced by half, the reference sample memory of 1 maximum CTU size can store samples for 4 CTUs.

In some embodiments, when the current CTU size in Log2 domain CtbLog2SizeY is used, the number of CTUs that can be store reference sample data in the reference sample memory buffer will be a variable depending on the relation between MaxCtbLog2SizeY and CtbLog2SizeY.

In a third embodiment, the CTU size is CtbLog2SizeY in Log2 domain, thus the reconstructed samples stored in the reference sample memory are from any of the current CTU, the furthest left CTU, and the mid-left CTU(s) that is(are) located between the current CTU and the furthest left CTU.

In the first step, the block mvL0 is checked to determine whether the block vector mvL0 points to the CTU based search range that includes the current CTU, the furthest left CTU and the mid-left CTU(s). In some examples, the constrains for the block vector mvL0 are expressed by Eq. 6-Eq. 9:

(yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4))>>CtbLog2SizeY=yCb>>CtbLog2SizeY   Eq. 6

(yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4)+cbHeight−1)>>CtbLog2SizeY=yCb>>CtbLog2SizeY   Eq. 7

(xCb+(mvL0[0]>>4))>>CtbLog2SizeY>=(xCb>>CtbLog2SizeY)−1<<(2*(MaxCtbLog2SizeY−CtbLog2SizeY))   Eq. 8

(xCb+(mvL0[0]>>4)+cbWidth−1)>>CtbLog2SizeY<=(xCb>>CtbLog2SizeY)   Eq. 9

When Eq. 6 is satisfied, the top of the reference block is in the same CTU row as the current block. When Eq. 7 is satisfied, the bottom of the reference block is in the same CTU row as the current block. When Eq. 8 is satisfied, the left of the reference block is in the same CTU column as one of the current CTU, the mid-left CTU(s) and the furthest left CTU in an example. When Eq. 9 is satisfied, the right of the reference block is in the same CTU column as as one of the current CTU, or in a CTU that is left of the current CTU (e.g., the mid-left CTU(s) the furthest left CTU and the like). Thus, when Eq. 6-Eq. 9 are satisfied in an example, the reference block is in the CTU based search range.

When the block vector mvL0 is a potential valid block vector, the block vector mvL0 is further check in the second step to determine whether the block vector is a valid block vector. For example, in the second step, when the block vector points to a reference block in a mid-left CTU, for example, when Eq. 10 is not satisfied, then the block vector is a valid block vector. In the second step, when the reference block is in the furthest left CTU, for example, when Eq. 10 is satisfied, the block vector mvL0 is further checked, in an example, to determine whether the collocated block of the reference block has been reconstructed or not.

(xCb+(mvL[0]>>4))>>CtbLog2SizeY=(xCb>>CtbLog2SizeY)−1>>(2*(MaxCtbLog2SizeY−CtbLog2SizeY)))   Eq. 10

In an example, the top-left corner of the current block is at (xCb, yCb), then the top-left corner of the reference block is at (xCb+(mvL[0]>>4), yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4)), and the top-left corner of the collocated block to the reference block is at (xCb+(mvL[0]>>4)+(1<<4{circumflex over ( )}(MaxCtbLog2SizeY−CtbLog2SizeY)), yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4)). In an example, the top-left corner of the collocated block is used to check on a map that tracks reconstruction process of a picture. When the location on the map is “false” which indicates that the collocated block has not been reconstructed in an example, thus the reference block is available in the reference sample memory and can be used to reconstruct the current block in the intra block copy mode. Then the block vector is a valid block vector. However, when the location on the map is “true” which indicates that at least a portion of the collocated block has been reconstructed in an example, thus the samples of the collocated block have been stored in the reference sample memory in the place of the samples of the reference block, and samples of the reference block are not available in the reference sample memory. Then, the block vector mvL0 is not a valid block vector.

In the third embodiment, the second step is based on collocated block, and the process in the third embodiment is referred to as CU basis update process.

In a fourth embodiment, the second step is based on a block region. For example, when the CTU size is CtbLog2SizeY in Log2 domain, the block region size is CtbLog2SizeY-1 in Log2 domain, the CTU can be divided into four block regions of the same size. Similarly, in the fourth embodiment, thus the reconstructed samples stored in the reference sample memory are from the current CTU, the furthest left CTU and the mid-left CTU(s) between the current CTU and the furthest left CTU.

In the first step, the block vector mvL0 is checked to determine whether the block vector mvL0 is a potential valid block vector that points to the CTU based search range that includes the current CTU, the furthest left CTU, and the mid-left CTU(s) between the current CTU and the furthest left CTU, such as using Eq. 6-Eq. 9 in the similar manner as in the third embodiment.

When the block vector mvL0 is a potential valid block vector, the block vector mvL0 is further check in the second step to determine whether the block vector is a valid block vector. For example, in the second step, when the block vector points to a reference block in a mid-left CTU, for example, when Eq. 10 is not satisfied, then the block vector is a valid block vector. In the second step, when the reference block is in the furthest left CTU, for example, when Eq. 10 is satisfied, the block vector mvL0 is checked to determine whether the collocated block region for the reference block has been reconstructed or not.

In an example, the top-left corner of the current block is at (xCb, yCb), then the top-left corner of the reference block is at (xCb+(mvL[0]>>4), yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4)), and the top-left corner of the collocated block region for the reference block is at (((xCb+(mvL[0]>>4)+(1<<4{circumflex over ( )}(MaxCtbLog2SizeY−CtbLog2SizeY)))>>(CtbLog2SizeY−1))<<(CtbLog2SizeY−1), ((yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4))>>(CtbLog2SizeY−1))<<(CtbLog2SizeY−1)). In an example, the top-left corner of the collocated block region is used to check on a map that tracks reconstruction process of a picture. When the location on the map is “false” which indicates that the collocated block region has not been reconstructed in an example, thus the reference block is available in the reference sample memory and can be used to reconstruct the current block in the intra block copy mode. Then the block vector is a valid block vector. However, when the location on the map is “true” which indicates that the collocated block region has been reconstructed or is partially reconstructed in an example, then the block vector mvL0 is not a valid block vector.

In the fourth embodiment, the second step is based on collocated block region, and the process in the fourth embodiment is referred to as block region basis update process. In the fourth embodiment, when any sample of the collocated block region (for the reference block) in the current CTU has been reconstructed, the corresponding region in the reference sample memory that stores samples of the collocated block region will not be available for intra block copy reference.

According to some aspect of the disclosure, the furthest left CTU is purposely excluded from the search region, then the block vector mvL0 is constrained using a one-step constrain process to determine whether the mvL0 is a valid block vector that points to a reference block in the intra block copy mode and the reference block is fully stored in the reference sample memory.

In a fifth embodiment, similar to the third embodiment, the CTU size is CtbLog2SizeY in Log2 domain, thus the reconstructed samples stored in the reference sample memory are from any of the current CTU, the furthest left CTU, and the mid-left CTU(s) that is(are) located between the current CTU and the furthest left CTU. In the fifth embodiment, the block mvL0 is checked in one-step to determine whether the block vector mvL0 points to a search range that includes the current CTU and the mid-left CTU(s). Please note that the furthest left CTU is excluded from the search range in the fifth embodiment. In some examples, the constrains for the block vector mvL0 are expressed by Eq. 11-Eq. 14:

(yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4))>>CtbLog2SizeY=yCb>>CtbLog2SizeY   Eq. 11

(yCb+(mvL0[1]>>4)+cbHeight−1)>>CtbLog2SizeY=yCb>>CtbLog2SizeY   Eq. 12

(xCb+(mvL0[0]>>4))>>CtbLog2SizeY>(xCb>>CtbLog2SizeY)−1<<(2*(MaxCtbLog2SizeY−CtbLog2SizeY))   Eq. 13

(xCb+(mvL0[0]>>4)+cbWidth−1)>>CtbLog2SizeY>(xCb>>CtbLog2SizeY)−1<<(2*(MaxCtbLog2SizeY−CtbLog2SizeY))   Eq. 14

When Eq. 11 is satisfied, the top of the reference block is in the same CTU row as the current block. When Eq. 12 is satisfied, the bottom of the reference block is in the same CTU row as the current block. When Eq. 13 is satisfied, the left of the reference block is in the same CTU column as one of the current CTU, and the mid-left CTU(s) in an example. When Eq. 14 is satisfied, the right of the reference block is in the same CTU column as one of the current CTU, and the mid-left CTU(s) in an example. Thus, when Eq. 11-Eq. 14 are satisfied in an example, the reference block is in the search range, and the block vector mvL0 is a valid block vector.

FIG. 13 shows a flow chart outlining a process (1300) according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The process (1300) can be used in the reconstruction of a block coded in intra mode, so to generate a prediction block for the block under reconstruction. In various embodiments, the process (1300) are executed by processing circuitry, such as the processing circuitry in the terminal devices (310), (320), (330) and (340), the processing circuitry that performs functions of the video encoder (403), the processing circuitry that performs functions of the video decoder (410), the processing circuitry that performs functions of the video decoder (510), the processing circuitry that performs functions of the video encoder (603), and the like. In some embodiments, the process (1300) is implemented in software instructions, thus when the processing circuitry executes the software instructions, the processing circuitry performs the process (1300). The process starts at (S1301) and proceeds to (S1310).

At (S1310), prediction information of a current block in a current CTU is decoded from a coded video bitstream. The prediction information is indicative of intra block copy mode. The size of the current CTU is smaller than a maximum size that corresponds to a storage capacity of a reference sample memory. In some examples, the reference sample memory has a faster access speed than a main memory for storing reconstructed samples from the coded video bitstram. For example, the reference sample memory is an on-chip memory that is on a same chip as decoder circuitry, and the main memory is off-chip memory that is external to the chip having the decoder circuitry. It is noted that the reference sample memory can be implemented using an off-chip memory in some examples.

At (S1320), a block vector is determined. The block vector points to a reference block in a same picture as the current block, the reference block has reconstructed samples buffered in the reference sample memory. In some embodiments, a search region is defined to includes CTUs with reconstructed samples buffered in the reference sample memory, such as the current CTU, the mid-lef CTU(s) and the furthest left CTU. The furthest left CTU has at least one reconstructed sample that has been overwritten with a reconstructed sample of the current CTU in the reference sample memory.

At (S1330), the current block is reconstructed based on the reconstructed samples of the reference block that are retrieved from the reference sample memory. For example, the reference sample memory is accessed to retrieve the reconstructed samples of the reference block, and then samples of the current block are reconstructed based on the reconstructed samples that are retrieved from the reference sample memory. Then the process proceeds to (S1399) and terminates.

The techniques described above, can be implemented as computer software using computer-readable instructions and physically stored in one or more computer-readable media. For example, FIG. 14 shows a computer system (1400) suitable for implementing certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

The computer software can be coded using any suitable machine code or computer language, that may be subject to assembly, compilation, linking, or like mechanisms to create code comprising instructions that can be executed directly, or through interpretation, micro-code execution, and the like, by one or more computer central processing units (CPUs), Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and the like.

The instructions can be executed on various types of computers or components thereof, including, for example, personal computers, tablet computers, servers, smartphones, gaming devices, internet of things devices, and the like.

The components shown in FIG. 14 for computer system (1400) are exemplary in nature and are not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the computer software implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. Neither should the configuration of components be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of components illustrated in the exemplary embodiment of a computer system (1400).

Computer system (1400) may include certain human interface input devices. Such a human interface input device may be responsive to input by one or more human users through, for example, tactile input (such as: keystrokes, swipes, data glove movements), audio input (such as: voice, clapping), visual input (such as: gestures), olfactory input (not depicted). The human interface devices can also be used to capture certain media not necessarily directly related to conscious input by a human, such as audio (such as: speech, music, ambient sound), images (such as: scanned images, photographic images obtain from a still image camera), video (such as two-dimensional video, three-dimensional video including stereoscopic video).

Input human interface devices may include one or more of (only one of each depicted): keyboard (1401), mouse (1402), trackpad (1403), touch screen (1410), data-glove (not shown), joystick (1405), microphone (1406), scanner (1407), camera (1408).

Computer system (1400) may also include certain human interface output devices. Such human interface output devices may be stimulating the senses of one or more human users through, for example, tactile output, sound, light, and smell/taste. Such human interface output devices may include tactile output devices (for example tactile feedback by the touch-screen (1410), data-glove (not shown), or joystick (1405), but there can also be tactile feedback devices that do not serve as input devices), audio output devices (such as: speakers (1409), headphones (not depicted)), visual output devices (such as screens (1410) to include CRT screens, LCD screens, plasma screens, OLED screens, each with or without touch-screen input capability, each with or without tactile feedback capability—some of which may be capable to output two dimensional visual output or more than three dimensional output through means such as stereographic output; virtual-reality glasses (not depicted), holographic displays and smoke tanks (not depicted)), and printers (not depicted).

Computer system (1400) can also include human accessible storage devices and their associated media such as optical media including CD/DVD ROM/RW (1420) with CD/DVD or the like media (1421), thumb-drive (1422), removable hard drive or solid state drive (1423), legacy magnetic media such as tape and floppy disc (not depicted), specialized ROM/ASIC/PLD based devices such as security dongles (not depicted), and the like.

Those skilled in the art should also understand that term “computer readable media” as used in connection with the presently disclosed subject matter does not encompass transmission media, carrier waves, or other transitory signals.

Computer system (1400) can also include an interface to one or more communication networks. Networks can for example be wireless, wireline, optical. Networks can further be local, wide-area, metropolitan, vehicular and industrial, real-time, delay-tolerant, and so on. Examples of networks include local area networks such as Ethernet, wireless LANs, cellular networks to include GSM, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE and the like, TV wireline or wireless wide area digital networks to include cable TV, satellite TV, and terrestrial broadcast TV, vehicular and industrial to include CANBus, and so forth. Certain networks commonly require external network interface adapters that attached to certain general purpose data ports or peripheral buses (1449) (such as, for example USB ports of the computer system (1400)); others are commonly integrated into the core of the computer system (1400) by attachment to a system bus as described below (for example Ethernet interface into a PC computer system or cellular network interface into a smartphone computer system). Using any of these networks, computer system (1400) can communicate with other entities. Such communication can be uni-directional, receive only (for example, broadcast TV), uni-directional send-only (for example CANbus to certain CANbus devices), or bi-directional, for example to other computer systems using local or wide area digital networks. Certain protocols and protocol stacks can be used on each of those networks and network interfaces as described above.

Aforementioned human interface devices, human-accessible storage devices, and network interfaces can be attached to a core (1440) of the computer system (1400).

The core (1440) can include one or more Central Processing Units (CPU) (1441), Graphics Processing Units (GPU) (1442), specialized programmable processing units in the form of Field Programmable Gate Areas (FPGA) (1443), hardware accelerators for certain tasks (1444), and so forth. These devices, along with Read-only memory (ROM) (1445), Random-access memory (1446), internal mass storage such as internal non-user accessible hard drives, SSDs, and the like (1447), may be connected through a system bus (1448). In some computer systems, the system bus (1448) can be accessible in the form of one or more physical plugs to enable extensions by additional CPUs, GPU, and the like. The peripheral devices can be attached either directly to the core's system bus (1448), or through a peripheral bus (1449). Architectures for a peripheral bus include PCI, USB, and the like.

CPUs (1441), GPUs (1442), FPGAs (1443), and accelerators (1444) can execute certain instructions that, in combination, can make up the aforementioned computer code. That computer code can be stored in ROM (1445) or RAM (1446). Transitional data can be also be stored in RAM (1446), whereas permanent data can be stored for example, in the internal mass storage (1447). Fast storage and retrieve to any of the memory devices can be enabled through the use of cache memory, that can be closely associated with one or more CPU (1441), GPU (1442), mass storage (1447), ROM (1445), RAM (1446), and the like.

The computer readable media can have computer code thereon for performing various computer-implemented operations. The media and computer code can be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present disclosure, or they can be of the kind well known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts.

As an example and not by way of limitation, the computer system having architecture (1400), and specifically the core (1440) can provide functionality as a result of processor(s) (including CPUs, GPUs, FPGA, accelerators, and the like) executing software embodied in one or more tangible, computer-readable media. Such computer-readable media can be media associated with user-accessible mass storage as introduced above, as well as certain storage of the core (1440) that are of non-transitory nature, such as core-internal mass storage (1447) or ROM (1445). The software implementing various embodiments of the present disclosure can be stored in such devices and executed by core (1440). A computer-readable medium can include one or more memory devices or chips, according to particular needs. The software can cause the core (1440) and specifically the processors therein (including CPU, GPU, FPGA, and the like) to execute particular processes or particular parts of particular processes described herein, including defining data structures stored in RAM (1446) and modifying such data structures according to the processes defined by the software. In addition or as an alternative, the computer system can provide functionality as a result of logic hardwired or otherwise embodied in a circuit (for example: accelerator (1444)), which can operate in place of or together with software to execute particular processes or particular parts of particular processes described herein. Reference to software can encompass logic, and vice versa, where appropriate. Reference to a computer-readable media can encompass a circuit (such as an integrated circuit (IC)) storing software for execution, a circuit embodying logic for execution, or both, where appropriate. The present disclosure encompasses any suitable combination of hardware and software.

Appendix A: Acronyms

-   JEM: joint exploration model -   VVC: versatile video coding -   BMS: benchmark set -   MV: Motion Vector -   HEVC: High Efficiency Video Coding -   SEI: Supplementary Enhancement Information -   VUI: Video Usability Information -   GOPs: Groups of Pictures -   TUs: Transform Units, -   PUs: Prediction Units -   CTUs: Coding Tree Units -   CTBs: Coding Tree Blocks -   PBs: Prediction Blocks -   HRD: Hypothetical Reference Decoder -   SNR: Signal Noise Ratio -   CPUs: Central Processing Units -   GPUs: Graphics Processing Units -   CRT: Cathode Ray Tube -   LCD: Liquid-Crystal Display -   OLED: Organic Light-Emitting Diode -   CD: Compact Disc -   DVD: Digital Video Disc -   ROM: Read-Only Memory -   RAM: Random Access Memory -   ASIC: Application-Specific Integrated Circuit -   PLD: Programmable Logic Device -   LAN: Local Area Network -   GSM: Global System for Mobile communications -   LTE: Long-Term Evolution -   CANBus: Controller Area Network Bus -   USB: Universal Serial Bus -   PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect -   FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Areas -   SSD: solid-state drive -   IC: Integrated Circuit -   CU: Coding Unit

While this disclosure has described several exemplary embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and various substitute equivalents, which fall within the scope of the disclosure. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems and methods which, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and are thus within the spirit and scope thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for video decoding in a decoder, comprising: decoding prediction information of a current block in a current coding tree unit (CTU) from a coded video bitstream, the prediction information being indicative of an intra block copy mode,; determining a block vector that points to a reference block in one of N−1 CTUs associated with reconstructed samples buffered in the reference sample memory, a maximum size of the reference sample memory for storing the reconstructed samples being greater than a size of the current CTU, N being larger than one; and reconstructing at least a sample of the current block based on the reconstructed samples of the reference block stored in the reference sample memory.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises: determining the block vector that points to the reference block that is in a same CTU row as the current CTU and located in a region from an (N−1)th left CTU to an adjacent left CTU of the current CTU.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: checking whether a top boundary of the reference block is in the same CTU row; checking whether a bottom boundary of the reference block is in the same CTU row; checking whether a left boundary of the reference block is to the right of the Nth left CTU; and checking whether a right boundary of the reference block is to the left of the current CTU.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: checking whether the reference block is at least partially in an Nth left CTU that is in a same CTU row as the current CTU.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: checking whether a left boundary of the reference block is in the Nth left CTU.
 6. The method of claim 4, further comprising: determining, when the reference block is at least partially in the Nth left CTU, whether, in the current CTU, a collocated block of the reference block is at least partially reconstructed.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: determining whether a top-left corner of the collocated block has been reconstructed.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: invalidating the block vector that points to the reference block when the collocated block in the current CTU is at least partially reconstructed.
 9. The method of claim 4, further comprising: determining a reference block region in the Nth left CTU that includes the reference block; determining, in the current CTU, whether a collocated block region of the reference block region is at least partially reconstructed; and invalidating the block vector that points to the reference block when the collocated block region in the current CTU is at least partially reconstructed.
 10. An apparatus for video decoding, comprising: processing circuitry configured to: decode prediction information of a current block in a current coding tree unit (CTU) from a coded video bitstream, the prediction information being indicative of an intra block copy mode; determine a block vector that points to a reference block in one of N−1 CTUs associated with reconstructed samples buffered in the reference sample memory, a maximum size of the reference sample memory for storing the reconstructed samples being greater than a size of the current CTU, N being larger than one; and reconstruct at least a sample of the current block based on the reconstructed samples of the reference block that are stored in the reference sample memory.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: determine the block vector that points to the reference block in a same CTU row as the current CTU and located in a region from an (N−1)th left CTU to an adjacent left CTU of the current CTU.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: check whether a top boundary of the reference block is in the same CTU row; check whether a bottom boundary of the reference block is in the same CTU row; check whether a left boundary of the reference block is to the right of the Nth left CTU; and check whether a right boundary of the reference block is to the left of the current CTU.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: check whether the reference block is at least partially in an Nth left CTU that is in a same CTU row as the current CTU.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: check whether a left boundary of the reference block is in the Nth left CTU.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: determine, when the reference block is at least partially in the Nth left CTU, whether, in the current CTU, a collocated block of the reference block is at least partially reconstructed.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: determine whether a top-left corner of the collocated block has been reconstructed.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: invalidate the block vector that points to the reference block when the collocated block in the current CTU is at least partially reconstructed.
 18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: determine a reference block region in the Nth left CTU that includes the reference block; determine, in the current CTU, whether a collocated block region of the reference block region is at least partially reconstructed; and invalidate the block vector that points to the reference block when the collocated block region in the current CTU is at least partially reconstructed.
 19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a computer for video decoding cause the computer to perform: decoding prediction information of a current block in a current coding tree unit (CTU) from a coded video bitstream; determining a block vector that points to a reference block in one of N−1 CTUS associated with reconstructed samples buffered in the reference sample memory, a maximum size of the reference sample memory for storing the reconstructed samples being greater than a size of the current CTU, N being larger than one; and reconstructing at least a sample of the current block based on the reconstructed samples of the reference block that are stored in the reference sample memory.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions further cause the computer to perform: determining the block vector that points to the reference block that is in a same CTU row as the current CTU and located in a region from an (N−1)th left CTU to an adjacent left CTU of the current CTU. 